Utensil dispensers with interlock mechanism
First Claim
1. A utensil dispenser configured to dispense at least two utensils comprising:
- a housing;
at least two dispense chassis disposed within the housing, each dispense chassis configured to move between a first position in which the dispense chassis is configured to dispense utensils from the housing and a second position in which the dispense chassis is configured to be loaded with utensils; and
a chassis interlock configured to link any two of the dispense chassis within the housing, the chassis interlock configured to move and prevent at least one of the dispense chassis that is in the first position from moving toward the second position when one other of the dispense chassis is moved to the second position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Utensil dispensers and methods for making and using same are provided herein. In some examples, the utensil dispensers can include a housing. At least two dispense chassis can be disposed within the housing. Each dispense chassis can be configured to move between a first position in which the dispense chassis is configured to dispense utensils from the housing and a second position in which the dispense chassis is configured to be loaded with utensils. A chassis interlock can be configured to prevent at least one of the dispense chassis that is in the first position from moving toward the second position when one other of the dispense chassis is in the second position.
103 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A utensil dispenser configured to dispense at least two utensils comprising:
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a housing; at least two dispense chassis disposed within the housing, each dispense chassis configured to move between a first position in which the dispense chassis is configured to dispense utensils from the housing and a second position in which the dispense chassis is configured to be loaded with utensils; and a chassis interlock configured to link any two of the dispense chassis within the housing, the chassis interlock configured to move and prevent at least one of the dispense chassis that is in the first position from moving toward the second position when one other of the dispense chassis is moved to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A utensil dispenser comprising:
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a housing; at least two dispense chassis disposed within the housing, each dispense chassis configured to move between a first position in which the dispense chassis is configured to dispense utensils from the housing and a second position in which the dispense chassis is configured to be loaded with utensils;
each dispense chassis having a first and second post disposed on an outer surface of the dispense chassis;a chassis interlock configured to link any two of the dispense chassis within the housing, the chassis interlock configured to move and prevent at least one of the dispense chassis that is in the first position from moving toward the second position when one other of the dispense chassis is moved to the second position; at least two glide mechanisms disposed within the housing, each glide mechanism comprising a first slot and a second slot that are configured to engage the first and second posts of one of the dispense chassis to guide the dispense chassis between the first position and the second position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A utensil dispenser configured to dispense at least two utensils comprising:
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at least two dispense chassis, each dispense chassis comprising; a housing configured to contain a stack of the utensils, wherein the stack of the utensils comprises a next utensil, the housing having at least one utensil rail configured to maintain the stack of the utensils in a stacked orientation, wherein each utensil in the stack of the utensils has a first portion and a second portion; a front pedestal configured to contact the first portion of the next utensil, a rear pedestal configured to contact the second portion of the next utensil; a drive mechanism configured to contact the next utensil and not contact the other utensils; an access port providing an opening to the housing; an actuator that is operably connected to the drive mechanism and configured to move the drive mechanism into a release position such that the drive mechanism contacts the next utensil in the stack of the utensils to push the next utensil causing the next utensil to release from the stack of the utensils and become a released utensil, wherein the released utensil is configured to fall to a dispense position and be accessible via the access port for removing from the dispenser in the dispense position; at least one post disposed on an outer surface of the dispense chassis; at least one glide mechanism disposed within the dispenser, the glide mechanism comprising a slot configured to contact the post of the dispense chassis and to guide the dispense chassis between a dispensing position in which the dispense chassis is configured to dispense utensils from the housing and a loading position in which the dispense chassis is configured to be loaded with utensils; and a chassis interlock configured to lock the position of at least one of the dispense chassis in the dispensing position when one other of the dispense chassis is in the loading position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification